IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,881,201
Granted Patent B2
US 8,881,201 · App. 12/779,797 · Granted Nov 4, 2014

Methods and systems for providing media content listings by content provider

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,881,201
App. No.
12/779,797
Granted
Nov 4, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An interactive television program guide method and system is provided in which a viewer may direct a media guidance application to display program listings independent of scheduled broadcast time. Selectable options are presented to viewer on the screen, allowing the user to select a subset of content providers and view associated listings. The media guidance application removes duplicate listings from the listings display, in accordance with the viewer's preference. Listings may be displayed in a variety of arrangements, including alphabetical order by title, by genre, or by day scheduled for broadcast. Listings can also be sorted according to several criteria and displayed for further convenience to the viewer. The viewer may specify a broadcast time interval to further narrow the subset of listings that are displayed. Additional options displayed on the screen allow the viewer to re-sort listings on the display screen.

Claims (33)

1. A method for providing media content listings, the method comprising:

generating a first program grid, on a display device, comprising a first plurality of media content listings associated with a plurality of content providers, wherein a first axis of the first program grid defines the plurality of content providers and includes a selectable option associated with a first content provider, and wherein a second axis of the first program grid defines a first criteria;

electronically receiving an indication of a user selection of the selectable option; and

in response to the indication, generating a second program grid on the display device, wherein a first axis of the second program grid defines only the first content provider, and wherein the second program grid comprises a second plurality of media content listings associated with only the first content provider ordered along the first axis of the second program grid, and wherein a second axis of the second program grid defines a second criteria, wherein time schedule information associated with the second plurality of media content listings is not displayed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein generating a second program grid comprises generating the second plurality of media content listings without duplicates.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein generating the second plurality of media content listings without duplicates comprises generating the second plurality of media content listings without displaying duplicate content titles that correspond to different scheduled broadcast times of a particular content.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein generating the second plurality of media content listings without duplicates comprises generating the second plurality of media content listings without displaying content titles that correspond to the same episode of a series having different scheduled broadcast times.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first criteria of the second axis of the first program grid is associated with a broadcast time range.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first axis of the second program grid is associated with title information.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the second plurality of media content listings is associated with scheduled broadcast video programming.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the second plurality of media content listings is associated with scheduled broadcast audio programming.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the second program grid comprises the second plurality of media content listings ordered alphabetically according to title.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the second criteria associated with the second axis of the second program grid is genre.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the second plurality of media content listings is selectable, the method further comprising generating additional information associated with a selected media content listing.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the additional information comprises graphical information.

13. A system for providing media content listings comprising:

a user input device;

a display device; and

processing circuitry configured for:

generating a first program grid, on a display device, comprising a first plurality of content media listings associated with a plurality of content providers, wherein a first axis of the first program grid defines the plurality of content providers and includes a selectable option associated with a first content provider, and wherein a second axis of the first program grid defines a first criteria;

electronically receiving an indication of a user selection of the selectable option; and

in response to the indication, generating a second program grid on the display device, wherein a first axis of the second program grid defines only the first content provider, and wherein the second program grid comprises a second plurality of media content listings associated with the first content provider ordered along the first axis of the second program grid, and wherein a second axis of the second program grid defines a second criteria, wherein time schedule information associated with the second plurality of media content listings is not displayed.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein generating a second program grid comprises generating the second plurality of media content listings without duplicates.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein generating the second plurality of media content listings without duplicates comprises generating the second plurality of media content listings without displaying duplicate content titles that correspond to different scheduled broadcast times of a particular content.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein generating the second plurality of media content listings without duplicates comprises generating the second plurality of media content listings without displaying content titles that correspond to the same episode of a series having different scheduled broadcast times.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the first criteria of the second axis of the first program grid is associated with a broadcast time range.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the first axis of the second program grid is associated with title information.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein at least one of the second plurality of media content listings is associated with scheduled broadcast video programming.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein at least one of the second plurality of media content listings is associated with scheduled broadcast audio programming.

21. The system of claim 13 wherein the second program grid comprises the second plurality of media content listings ordered alphabetically according to title.

22. The system of claim 13 wherein the second criteria associated with the second axis of the second program grid is genre.

23. The system of claim 13 wherein at least one of the second plurality of media content listings is selectable, the system further comprising further comprising generating additional information associated with a selected media content listing.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the additional information comprises graphical information.

Assignments (18)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 2, 2024
From: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
To: ADEIA GUIDES INC.
Reel/Frame 069085/0376 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053481/0790 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053458/0749 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2020
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS INC.; VEVEO, INC.; INVENSAS CORPORATION; INVENSAS BONDING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TESSERA, INC.; TESSERA ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DTS, INC.; PHORUS, INC.; IBIQUITY DIGITAL CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053468/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051110/0006 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: APTIV DIGITAL INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 051145/0090 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051143/0468 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 12, 2015
From: TV GUIDE, INC.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035848/0245 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 12, 2015
From: UV CORP.
To: TV GUIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 035848/0270 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 12, 2015
From: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: UV CORP.
Reel/Frame 035893/0241 →
MERGER Recorded Apr 29, 2015
From: TV GUIDE, INC.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035525/0407 →
MERGER Recorded Apr 29, 2015
From: UV CORP.
To: TV GUIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 035525/0365 →
MERGER Recorded Apr 29, 2015
From: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: UV CORP.
Reel/Frame 035525/0345 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 24, 2014
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033407/0035 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Jul 24, 2014
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ALL MEDIA GUIDE, LLC; APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 033396/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2011
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC, A BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS COMPANY; ROVI CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 027039/0168 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 17, 2011
From: ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 026286/0539 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 10, 2010
From: TOMITA, KANAKO
To: ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024517/0684 →